Have a voice in the medical literature: Become a journal peer reviewer

The AAO-HNSF journals receive applications every month from individuals who want to become peer reviewers, and for good reason. Reviewing keeps you abreast of the latest medical literature, can provide CME credit, and is often the first step toward more senior journal positions, including editorial board member and associate editor.

“I decided to start reviewing for the journal upon graduating residency as a way to ‘force’ myself to continue looking at publications critically,” said Thomas Q. Gallagher, DO, a five-time recipient of the Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery star reviewer award and current associate

editor for the AAO-HNSF journals. “Once I got started, I really enjoyed the opportunity to provide positive feedback to authors to help make their papers better and to have a critical voice in publication content in our journal. It has also provided me the ability to be a better teacher to my residents, guiding them on how to do quality research and publish successfully.”

The journals’ editors welcome reviewer applications year-round. Simply fill out the application form and submit it along with your CV to otomanager@entnet.org.

Residents interested in becoming reviewers must enroll in the Resident Reviewer Development Program—a mentorship program that lets residents shadow a top reviewer for Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and OTO Open.